Page 5 of Lilly

"I'm sorry, but no." My dad's jaw tightens. He hates it when people ask for favors like this, especially when he's not in a business setting. This is supposed to be a casual dinner, a way for our families to get to know each other because everyone knows Reed and I have a future together. We've already talked about it and it's what we both want. We love each other, and someday, way off in the future, we plan to get married, which means my dad and Dean need to get along. They don't need to be friends but it'd be nice if they liked each other.

But I'm getting the feeling my dad doesn't like Dean. He hasn't said anything about it but I can tell he's irritated by him. He gets this way every time they're together. There's something about Dean he doesn't like, and it's not just the fact that Dean asked him for a favor. It's something else. I just don't know what.

Chapter Two

Pearce

Rachel follows me in the bedroom and shuts the door. "Pearce, don't be upset about this."

"Of course I'm upset about it." I take my suit jacket off and toss it on the bed. "That man could be Lilly's father-in-law someday, which means we'll all have to deal with him. He'll be part of the family and then he'll never stop asking for favors."

She sighs as she walks up to me. "It's just what people do. He's not unlike anyone else. He knows you have connections and he asked you to make a call. It's not like he was asking for money. He's just trying to get ahead in his career."

"Then he needs to do so on his own. I'm not going down that road. It may start with a call but where does it end?" I yank my tie loose.

"Pearce, that's not fair." She unbuttons my shirt. "We've known him for months now and this is the first time he's asked you to do something for him."

"Because he was waiting for the right time. He wanted to gain our trust first. Make us think he's not out to get anything, but tonight he showed his true intentions." I take off my shirt and go toss it in the hamper in the closet.

Rachel meets me in there. "I really don't think he has ill intentions. I think he's just a man facing middle age who's panicking because he's not at the place he wants to be. He's not unlike you, Pearce. He's ambitious and wants to be a success."

"Yes, but I achieved that success on my own. I didn't ask for any favors."

She rests her hands on my chest and looks up at me. "While I agree that you worked hard to be where you're at, you have to admit you had more advantages than most people. Your family name. The organization."

"Yes. Fine. I had advantages, but I never asked for those. I would still be where I'm at even without them. My father did nothing but put me down and challenge my decisions. If anything, he held me back, making it even harder to achieve success. And as for the organization, I was helped by just a few select members. The rest of them were against me when I first started out."

"I'm just saying that maybe you shouldn't be so quick to judge him. It was one request. If he asks again next time we see him, just be honest and tell him you don't feel comfortable calling up people on his behalf. Tell him it's not something you do."

"I already made that clear tonight by telling him no."

"You said you wouldn't call Kiefer but you didn't explain why. Next time, just tell him."

"I'd rather there not be a next time. I don't care to spend time with that man."

She smiles. "Well, we don't really have a choice, now do we? He's the father of the boy our daughter loves, and therefore we need to get along with him. It means a lot to Lilly." She turns her back to me. "Could you unzip me?"

I tug the zipper down on her dress, then softly kiss her neck. "I'm feeling rather tense."

Her lips turn up. "Meaning you need me to help you relax?"

I turn her toward me and press my lips to hers. "I've wanted to be with you all day. You looked beautiful in that dress." I kiss her again and pull her body against mine.

There's a knock on the door. "Mom?" Lilly knocks again. "Mom, are you in there?"

I sigh. "I'm not used to her living here again. I keep thinking it's just you and me."

Rachel laughs. "Go get the door. I have to put something on."

I walk over and open the door and see Lilly in her pajamas. "Is Mom in here?"

"Yes, she's coming."

Lilly notices my shirt is off. "Oh. Sorry, I um—"

"It's fine. I was just changing out of my suit."

She nods, but the uncomfortable look on her face tells me she knows what Rachel and I were about to do. She doesn't want to think of us that way. In fact, I think she'd rather assume her parents don't do those things, just like I choose to assume she doesn't do those things with Reed. That thought entered my head when Reed said he and Lilly stayed at his father's apartment all day instead of going out. My anger immediately flared and I might've punched him if Rachel wasn't there to calm me down.

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